News Post #3

“Robert Gibbs: ‘I hope you had fun, too”

Written by Politico writer Carol E. Lee, this article outlines the events of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' last working day in the White House. It is evident that Lee is the primary source of information for the article; however, Mike Allen also contributed to the article, as noted at the article's close. The article begins by describing the end of his time in the White House as a “fitting end to a colorful tenure,” and goes on to point out that Robert Gibbs’ last day was also the last day for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Lee writes that White House staffers were not only scrambling to deal with the events in Egypt, but also preparing the final ceremonies outlining Gibbs’ departure. President Obama joined Gibbs in the White House Briefing Room on his last day. The president joked about the coincidence of Gibbs and Mubarak both leaving the same day, followed by a story about the tie he borrowed from Gibbs before speaking at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. The speech, the writer notes, catapulted him into the national spotlight. Obama returned the framed tie to Gibbs at the press briefing. Unlike many other press secretaries, Gibbs was also a long-time key advisor to Obama in his campaigns and in the White House, a key role that very few of his predecessors filled. Lee also points out several key events that Gibbs covered during his time as Press Secretary, including the oil spill in the Gulf, the economy, war, unemployment, the party crashing of a state dinner, and tragedies at Fort Hood and Tucson, Ariz. Lee briefly writes of Gibbs habits and personality. Gibbs, an Alabama native, was known for his refusal to answer questions and back-and-forths with reporters. Gibbs was also well known for being late to briefings, and Lee devotes several paragraphs to the breakdown of the three-hour delay of Gibbs’ last briefing. He was also the first White House press secretary to create a Twitter account, @PressSec. After his last day, Gibbs will begin work with Harry Walker Agency as a paid speaking circuit, as well as working with Obama’s presidential campaign in 2012. Gibbs also plans to spend more time with his family, pointing out that he plans to walk to the bus stop with his son on Monday. The writer quotes Joe Lockhart, a former Clinton press secretary. Lockhart notes that perhaps the most difficult part of the transition out of the White House will come after his last day, saying that it will be difficult to watch the news and not immediately prepare for “political combat.” In closing, Lee writes that Gibbs caught many reporters off-guard at the end of his final press briefing, telling all of them, “I will miss you.”

In the article, Lee chooses to write in a more story-telling fashion rather than using the hard news approach of quickly relaying the crucial information of the story. Without previous knowledge, the title of the article and first paragraph give no indication of what the topic of the article may be. By the second paragraph, Lee states the purpose of the article: the departure of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. However, she cleverly weaves in the coincidence of Gibb’s departure also falling on the same day as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s departure. Quotes do not begin until the fifth paragraph, with a quote from President Obama about Gibbs’ necktie. After pointing out the major events of the press briefing, Lee effectively points out the highlights of Gibbs’ career and his future plans after leaving the White House. Perhaps most effectively, Lee quotes a former press secretary for President Bill Clinton, introducing the hardships Gibbs’ will face after departure. With such a strong quote, Lee hooks the reader into continuing to read, even though the story has already become lengthy. The article also ends with an effective quote, one that was both shocking to reporters and readers alike. Although extremely wordy and long, the article successfully gives a recap of Gibbs’ final briefing and brief history of his time as a press secretary.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49378.html